Benefit concert for Beeton boy

Happy at Home

BEETON - The community will come together once again to fundraise for the Gallinger family this Saturday in Beeton.

Jan. 19 at the Muddy Water Tavern in Beeton, Music for Joey will take place to help the family of Joe Gallinger, who battling a rare form of cancer.

Thirteen-year-old Joe was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in August of 2012 and has been facing many tests and treatments since. The Gallinger family is currently enduring financial and emotional strain as Joe fights his sickness and Marianne and Greg Gallinger have both taken time away from their jobs.

Local musician Paul Vigneault heard Joe’s story and wanted to help the family. He organized the Music for Joey concert and has rounded up a variety of musicians to perform. Cancer is a disease that effects many people and has also touched Vigneault’s family, which in part urged him to help the Gallingers.

Vigneault said he expects the concert to be “a great community event with lots of support and a lot of fun with different musical styles.”

The community has been very supportive of the Gallinger family and has organized other events to help the family such as the Royal LePage RCR pumpkin giveaway and a loonie drive called Dough for Joe held by Joe’s classmates at Tecumseth Beeton Elementary School. In total, the community has raised over $7,500 for the Gallinger family.

The Muddy Water Tavern is donating their space for the Music for Joey event where seven bands and two solo artists will perform from noon until the venue closes at 2 a.m. The event will also include a silent auction featuring timeless sports memorabilia courtesy of The Icebox Cards and Collectibles with all proceeds benefiting Joe and his family.

There is no charge to attend the event but there will be a donation box on site for anyone that would like to donate. Performers will include Vigneault’s own band Bang On, as well as The Butchers, Sean Bourque Band, The Stilettos, Groove Monkeys, Raven Call, Vinyl Groove and local solo artists Tim Ronan and Grant Boyer.